[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6184-6190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-1076]



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Part IV





Department of Education





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Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; Arts in 
Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006; Notice

  Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 2006 / 
Notices  

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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION


Office of Innovation and Improvement; Overview Information; Arts 
in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program; Notice 
Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.351D.
    Dates:
    Applications Available: February 6, 2006.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: March 8, 2006. Deadline for 
Transmittal of Applications: April 7, 2006. Deadline for 
Intergovernmental Review: June 6, 2006.
    Eligible Applicants: (1) One or more local educational agencies 
(LEAs), including charter schools that are considered LEAs under State 
law and regulations, that may work in partnership with one or more of 
the following:
     A State or local non-profit or governmental arts 
organization,
     A State educational agency (SEA) or regional educational 
service agency,
     An institution of higher education, or
     A public or private agency, institution, or organization, 
such as a community- or faith-based organization; or
    (2) One or more State or local non-profit or governmental arts 
organizations that must work in partnership with one or more LEAs and 
may partner with one or more of the following:
     An SEA or regional educational service agency,
     An institution of higher education, or
     A public or private agency, institution, or organization, 
such as a community-or faith-based organization.


    Note: If more than one LEA or arts organization wishes to form a 
consortium and jointly submit a single application, they must follow 
the procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 
through 34 CFR 75.129 of the Education Department General 
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR).


    Estimated Available Funds: $8.7 million. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make 
additional awards in FY 2007 from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $225,000-$275,000 for the first year of 
the project. Funding for the second, third and fourth years is subject 
to the availability of funds and the approval of continuation awards 
(see 34 CFR 75.253).
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 35.


    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.


    Note: The first 12 months may be used to build capacity to 
effectively carry out the comprehensive activities involved in the 
evaluation plan described in the competitive preference priority.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

    Purpose of Program: The Arts in Education Model Development and 
Dissemination (AEMDD) program supports the enhancement, expansion, 
documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative, cohesive 
models that are based on research and have demonstrated that they 
effectively: (1) Integrate standards-based arts education into the core 
elementary and middle school curricula; (2) strengthen standards-based 
arts instruction in these grades; and (3) improve students' academic 
performance, including their skills in creating, performing, and 
responding to the arts. Projects funded through the AEMDD program are 
intended to increase the amount of nationally available information on 
effective models for arts education that integrate the arts with 
standards-based education programs.
    Priorities: This competition includes one absolute priority and one 
competitive preference priority.
    Absolute Priority: This priority is from the notice of final 
priorities for this program, published in the Federal Register on March 
30, 2005 (70 FR 16234). For FY 2006, and any subsequent year in which 
we make awards based on the list of unfunded applicants from this 
competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.
    This priority is:
    This priority supports projects that enhance, expand, document, 
evaluate, and disseminate innovative cohesive models that are based on 
research and have demonstrated their effectiveness in (1) integrating 
standards-based arts education into the core elementary or middle 
school curriculum, (2) strengthening standards-based arts instruction 
in the elementary or middle school grades, and (3) improving the 
academic performance of students in elementary or middle school grades, 
including their skills in creating, performing, and responding to the 
arts.
    In order to meet this priority, an applicant must demonstrate that 
the model project for which it seeks funding (1) serves only elementary 
school or middle school grades, or both, and (2) is linked to State and 
national standards intended to enable all students to meet challenging 
expectations and to improve student and school performance.
    Competitive Preference Priority: This priority is from the notice 
of final priority published in the Federal Register on January 25, 2005 
(70 FR 3586). For FY 2006 and any subsequent years in which we make 
awards based on the list of unfunded applicants from this competition, 
this priority is a competitive preference priority. Under 34 CFR 
75.105(c)(2)(i), we award up to an additional 20 points to an 
application, depending on how well the application meets this priority. 
These points are in addition to any points the application earns under 
the selection criteria.
    When using the priority to give competitive preference to an 
application, the Secretary will review applications using a two-stage 
process. In the first stage, the application will be reviewed without 
taking the priority into account. In the second stage of review, the 
applications rated highest in stage one will be reviewed for 
competitive preference. We will consider awarding additional 
(competitive preference) points only to those applicants with top-
ranked scores on their selection criteria. We expect that up to 30 
applicants will receive these additional competitive preference points.
    This priority is:
    The Secretary establishes a priority for projects proposing an 
evaluation plan that is based on rigorous scientifically based research 
methods to assess the effectiveness of a particular intervention. The 
Secretary intends that this priority will allow program participants 
and the Department to determine whether the project produces meaningful 
effects on student achievement or teacher performance.
    Evaluation methods using an experimental design are best for 
determining project effectiveness. Thus, when feasible, the project 
must use an experimental design under which participants--e.g., 
students, teachers, classrooms, or schools--are randomly assigned to 
participate in the project activities being evaluated or to a control 
group that does not participate in the project activities being 
evaluated.
    If random assignment is not feasible, the project may use a quasi-

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experimental design with carefully matched comparison conditions. This 
alternative design attempts to approximate a randomly assigned control 
group by matching participants--e.g., students, teachers, classrooms, 
or schools--with non-participants having similar pre-program 
characteristics.
    In cases where random assignment is not possible and participation 
in the intervention is determined by a specified cutting point on a 
quantified continuum of scores, regression discontinuity designs may be 
employed.
    For projects that are focused on special populations in which 
sufficient numbers of participants are not available to support random 
assignment or matched comparison group designs, single-subject designs 
such as multiple baseline or treatment-reversal or interrupted time 
series that are capable of demonstrating causal relationships can be 
employed.
    Proposed evaluation strategies that use neither experimental 
designs with random assignment nor quasi-experimental designs using a 
matched comparison group nor regression discontinuity designs will not 
be considered responsive to the priority when sufficient numbers of 
participants are available to support these designs. Evaluation 
strategies that involve too small a number of participants to support 
group designs must be capable of demonstrating the causal effects of an 
intervention or program on those participants.
    The proposed evaluation plan must describe how the project 
evaluator will collect--before the project intervention commences and 
after it ends--valid and reliable data that measure the impact of 
participation in the program or in the comparison group.
    If the priority is used as a competitive preference priority, 
points awarded under this priority will be determined by the quality of 
the proposed evaluation method. In determining the quality of the 
evaluation method, we will consider the extent to which the applicant 
presents a feasible, credible plan that includes the following:
    (1) The type of design to be used (that is, random assignment or 
matched comparison). If matched comparison, include in the plan a 
discussion of why random assignment is not feasible.
    (2) Outcomes to be measured.
    (3) A discussion of how the applicant plans to assign students, 
teachers, classrooms, or schools to the project and control group or 
match them for comparison with other students, teachers, classrooms, or 
schools.
    (4) A proposed evaluator, preferably independent, with the 
necessary background and technical expertise to carry out the proposed 
evaluation. An independent evaluator does not have any authority over 
the project and is not involved in its implementation.
    In general, depending on the implemented program or project, under 
a competitive preference priority, random assignment evaluation methods 
will receive more points than matched comparison evaluation methods.

Application Requirement

    To be eligible for AEMDD funds, applicants must propose to address 
the needs of children from low-income families by carrying out projects 
that serve at least one elementary or middle school in which 35 percent 
or more of the children enrolled are from low-income families (based on 
data used in meeting the poverty criteria in Title I, Section 
1113(a)(5) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as 
amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA)).

Definitions

    As used in the absolute priority in this notice--
    Arts includes music, dance, theater, media arts, and visual arts, 
including folk arts.
    Integrating means (i) encouraging the use of high-quality arts 
instruction in other academic/content areas and (ii) strengthening the 
place of the arts as a core academic subject in the school curriculum.
    Based on research, when used with respect to an activity or a 
program, means that, to the extent possible, the activity or program is 
based on the most rigorous theory, research, and evaluation available 
and is effective in improving student achievement and performance and 
other program objectives.
    As used in the competitive preference priority in this notice--
    Scientifically based research (section 9101(37) of the ESEA as 
amended by NCLB, 20 U.S.C. 7801(37)):
    (A) Means research that involves the application of rigorous, 
systematic, and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid 
knowledge relevant to education activities and programs; and
    (B) Includes research that--
    (i) Employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on observation 
or experiment;
    (ii) Involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to test the 
stated hypotheses and justify the general conclusions drawn;
    (iii) Relies on measurements or observational methods that provide 
reliable and valid data across evaluators and observers, across 
multiple measurements and observations, and across studies by the same 
or different investigators;
    (iv) Is evaluated using experimental or quasi-experimental designs 
in which individuals, entities, programs, or activities are assigned to 
different conditions and with appropriate controls to evaluate the 
effects of the condition of interest, with a preference for random-
assignment experiments, or other designs to the extent that those 
designs contain within-condition or across-condition controls;
    (v) Ensures that experimental studies are presented in sufficient 
detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at a minimum, offer the 
opportunity to build systematically on their findings; and
    (vi) Has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or approved by a 
panel of independent experts through a comparably rigorous, objective, 
and scientific review.
    Random assignment or experimental design means random assignment of 
students, teachers, classrooms, or schools to participate in a project 
being evaluated (treatment group) or not participate in the project 
(control group). The effect of the project is the difference in 
outcomes between the treatment and control groups.
    Quasi-experimental designs include several designs that attempt to 
approximate a random assignment design.
    Carefully matched comparison groups design means a quasi-
experimental design in which project participants are matched with non-
participants based on key characteristics that are thought to be 
related to the outcome.
    Regression discontinuity design means a quasi-experimental design 
that closely approximates an experimental design. In a regression 
discontinuity design, participants are assigned to a treatment or 
control group based on a numerical rating or score of a variable 
unrelated to the treatment such as the rating of an application for 
funding. Eligible students, teachers, classrooms, or schools above a 
certain score (``cut score'') are assigned to the treatment group and 
those below the score are assigned to the control group. In the case of 
the scores of applicants' proposals for funding, the ``cut score'' is 
established at the point where the program funds available are 
exhausted.
    Single subject design means a design that relies on the comparison 
of treatment effects on a single subject or group of single subjects. 
There is little confidence that findings based on this

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design would be the same for other members of the population.
    Treatment reversal design means a single subject design in which a 
pre-treatment or baseline outcome measurement is compared with a post-
treatment measure. Treatment would then be stopped for a period of 
time, a second baseline measure of the outcome would be taken, followed 
by a second application of the treatment or a different treatment. For 
example, this design might be used to evaluate a behavior modification 
program for disabled students with behavior disorders.
    Multiple baseline design means a single subject design to address 
concerns about the effects of normal development, timing of the 
treatment, and amount of the treatment with treatment-reversal designs 
by using a varying time schedule for introduction of the treatment and/
or treatments of different lengths or intensity.
    Interrupted time series design means a quasi-experimental design in 
which the outcome of interest is measured multiple times before and 
after the treatment for program participants only.
    Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7271.
    Applicable Regulations: (a) EDGAR in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 
80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98, and 99. (b) The notice of final 
priorities for this program, published in the Federal Register on March 
30, 2005 (70 FR 16234). (c) The notice of final priority for 
Scientifically Based Evaluation Methods, published in the Federal 
Register on January 25, 2005 (70 FR 3586).


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants 
except federally recognized Indian tribes.


    Note: The regulations in 34 CFR part 86 apply to institutions of 
higher education only.

II. Award Information

    Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
    Estimated Available Funds: $8.7 million. Contingent upon the 
availability of funds and quality of applications, we may make 
additional awards in FY 2007 from the list of unfunded applications 
from this competition.
    Estimated Range of Awards: $225,000-$275,000 for the first year of 
the project. Funding for the second, third and fourth years is subject 
to the availability of funds and the approval of continuation awards 
(see 34 CFR 75.253).
    Estimated Average Size of Awards: $250,000.
    Estimated Number of Awards: 35.


    Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this 
notice.


    Project Period: Up to 48 months.


    Note: The first 12 months may be used to build capacity to 
effectively carry out the comprehensive activities involved in the 
evaluation plan described in the competitive preference priority.

III. Eligibility Information

    1. Eligible Applicants:
    (1) One or more LEAs, including charter schools that are considered 
LEAs under State law and regulations, that may work in partnership with 
one or more of the following:
     A State or local non-profit or governmental arts 
organization,
     An SEA or regional educational service agency,
     An institution of higher education, or
     A public or private agency, institution, or organization, 
such as a community- or faith-based organization; or
    (2) One or more State or local non-profit or governmental arts 
organizations that must work in partnership with one or more LEAs and 
may partner with one or more of the following:
     An SEA or regional educational service agency,
     An institution of higher education, or
     A public or private agency, institution, or organization, 
such as a community- or faith-based organization.


    Note: If more than one LEA or arts organization wish to form a 
consortium and jointly submit a single application, they must follow 
the procedures for group applications described in 34 CFR 75.127 
through 34 CFR 75.129 of EDGAR.


    2. Cost Sharing and Matching: This program does not involve cost 
sharing or matching but does involve supplement-not-supplant funding 
provisions.
    Under section 5551(f)(2) of the ESEA, the Secretary requires that 
assistance provided under this subpart be used only to supplement, and 
not to supplant, other assistance or funds made available from non-
Federal sources for the activities assisted under this subpart.
    This restriction also has the effect of allowing projects to 
recover indirect costs only on the basis of a restricted indirect cost 
rate, according to the requirements in 34 CFR 75.563 and 34 CFR 76.564 
through 34 CFR 76.569. As soon as they decide to apply, applicants are 
urged to contact the ED Indirect Cost Group at (202) 377-3833 for 
guidance about obtaining a restricted indirect cost rate to use on the 
Budget Information form (ED Form 524) included with the application 
package.
    3. Coordination Requirement: Under section 5551(f)(1) of the ESEA, 
the Secretary requires that each entity funded under this program 
coordinate, to the extent practicable, each project or program carried 
out with funds awarded under this program with appropriate activities 
of public or private cultural agencies, institutions, and 
organizations, such as museums, arts education associations, libraries, 
and theaters.

IV. Application and Submission Information

    1. Address to Request Application Package: Education Publications 
Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll 
free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 
1-877-576-7734.
    You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify 
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.351D.
    You may also obtain the application package for the program via the 
Internet at the following address: http://www.ed.gov/programs/artsedmodel/applicant.html.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application 
package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, 
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact 
person listed in section VII of this notice.
    2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements 
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you 
must submit, are in the application package for this program.
    Notice of Intent to Apply: The Department will be able to develop a 
more efficient process for reviewing grant applications if it has a 
better understanding of the number of entities that intend to apply for 
funding under this competition. Therefore, the Secretary strongly 
encourages each potential applicant to notify the Department by sending 
a short e-mail message indicating the applicant's intent to submit an 
application for funding. The e-mail need not include information 
regarding the content of the proposed application, only the

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applicant's intent to submit it. This e-mail notification should be 
sent to Diane Austin at [email protected].
    Applicants that fail to provide this e-mail notification may still 
apply for funding.
    Page Limit for Program Narrative: The program narrative (Part III 
of the application) is where you, the applicant, address the selection 
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate your application. Applicants 
are strongly encouraged to limit Part III to the equivalent of no more 
than 30 single-sided, double-spaced pages printed in 12-font type or 
larger.
    The suggested page limit does not apply to Part I, the cover sheet; 
Part II, the budget section, including the narrative budget 
justification; Part IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-
page abstract, the competitive preference priority, the absolute 
priority, curriculum vitae, or bibliography of literature cited. 
However, you must include all of the program narrative in Part III.
    3. Submission Dates and Times:
    Applications Available: February 6, 2006.
    Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: March 8, 2006.
    Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: April 7, 2006.
    Applications for grants under this competition must be submitted 
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov). For 
information (including dates and times) about how to submit your 
application electronically or by mail or hand delivery if you qualify 
for an exception to the electronic submission requirement, please refer 
to section IV. 6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
    We do not consider an application that does not comply with the 
deadline requirements.
    Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: June 6, 2006.
    4. Intergovernmental Review: This competition is subject to 
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. 
Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under 
Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this 
competition.
    5. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding 
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.
    6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under 
this competition must be submitted electronically unless you qualify 
for an exception to this requirement in accordance with the 
instructions in this section.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications

    Applications for grants under the AEMDD program--CFDA Number 
84.351D--must be submitted electronically using the Grants.gov Apply 
site at: http://www.grants.gov. Through this site, you will be able to 
download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and 
then upload and submit your application. You may not e-mail an 
electronic copy of a grant application to us.
    We will reject your application if you submit it in paper format 
unless, as described elsewhere in this section, you qualify for one of 
the exceptions to the electronic submission requirement and submit, no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date, a written 
statement to the Department that you qualify for one of these 
exceptions. Further information regarding calculation of the date that 
is two weeks before the application deadline date is provided later in 
this section under Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement.
    You may access the electronic grant application for the AEMDD 
program at: http://www.grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable 
application package for this program by the CFDA number. Do not include 
the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search.
    Please note the following:
     When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find 
information about submitting an application electronically through the 
site, as well as the hours of operation.
     Applications received by Grants.gov are time and date 
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted, and 
must be date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as 
otherwise noted in this section, we will not consider your application 
if it is date/time stamped by the Grants.gov system later than 4:30 
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. When we 
retrieve your application from Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are 
rejecting your application because it was date/time stamped by the 
Grants.gov system after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
application deadline date.
     The amount of time it can take to upload an application 
will vary depending on a variety of factors including the size of the 
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we 
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline 
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
     You should review and follow the Education Submission 
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are 
included in the application package for this program to ensure that you 
submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov system. 
You can also find the Education Submission Procedures pertaining to 
Grants.gov at http://eGrants.ed.gov/help/GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
     To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must 
complete all of the steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see 
http://www.Grants.gov/GetStarted). These steps include (1) registering 
your organization, (2) registering yourself as an Authorized 
Organization Representative (AOR), and (3) getting authorized as an AOR 
by your organization. Details on these steps are outlined in the 
Grants.gov 3-Step Registration Guide (see http://www.grants.gov/assets/GrantsgovCoBrandBrochure8X11.pdf). You also must provide on your 
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please 
note that the registration process may take five or more business days 
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to 
allow you to successfully submit an application via Grants.gov.
     You will not receive additional point value because you 
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you 
if you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, as described elsewhere in this section, and submit your 
application in paper format.
     You must submit all documents electronically, including 
all information typically included on the Application for Federal 
Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information--Non-Construction 
Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You 
must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a 
.DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. 
If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified 
above or submit a password protected file, we will not review that 
material.
     Your electronic application must comply with any page 
limit requirements described in this notice.
     After you electronically submit your application, you will 
receive an automatic acknowledgment from Grants.gov that contains a 
Grants.gov

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tracking number. The Department will retrieve your application from 
Grants.gov and send you a second confirmation by e-mail that will 
include a PR/Award number (an ED-specified identifying number unique to 
your application).
     We may request that you provide us original signatures on 
forms at a later date.
    Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues 
with the Grants.gov System: If you are prevented from electronically 
submitting your application on the application deadline date because of 
technical problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an 
extension until 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business 
day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, or by 
hand delivery. You also may mail your application by following the 
mailing instructions as described elsewhere in this notice. If you 
submit an application after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the 
deadline date, please contact the person listed elsewhere in this 
notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, and provide an 
explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, 
along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number (if available). We 
will accept your application if we can confirm that a technical problem 
occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that problem affected your 
ability to submit your application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, 
on the application deadline date. The Department will contact you after 
a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.


    Note: Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the 
unavailability of or technical problems with the Grants.gov system. 
We will not grant you an extension if you failed to fully register 
to submit your application to Grants.gov before the deadline date 
and time or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to 
the Grants.gov system.

    Exception to Electronic Submission Requirement: You qualify for an 
exception to the electronic submission requirement, and may submit your 
application in paper format, if you are unable to submit an application 
through the Grants.gov system because--
     You do not have access to the Internet; or
     You do not have the capacity to upload large documents to 
the Grants.gov system; and
     No later than two weeks before the application deadline 
date (14 calendar days or, if the fourteenth calendar day before the 
application deadline date falls on a Federal holiday, the next business 
day following the Federal holiday), you mail or fax a written statement 
to the Department, explaining which of the two grounds for an exception 
prevent you from using the Internet to submit your application. If you 
mail your written statement to the Department, it must be postmarked no 
later than two weeks before the application deadline date. If you fax 
your written statement to the Department, we must receive the faxed 
statement no later than two weeks before the application deadline date.
    Address and mail or fax your statement to: Diane Austin, U.S. 
Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 4W210, 
Washington, DC 20202-5950. FAX: (202) 205-5630.
    Your paper application must be submitted in accordance with the 
mail or hand delivery instructions described in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you may mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a 
commercial carrier), your application to the Department. You must mail 
the original and two copies of your application, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable 
following address:
    By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of 
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.351D), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or,
    By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, 
Application Control Center--Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 
84.351D), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
    Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing 
consisting of one of the following:
    (1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,
    (2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the 
U.S. Postal Service,
    (3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial 
carrier, or
    (4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the 
U.S. Department of Education.
    If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do 
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
    (1) A private metered postmark, or
    (2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
    If your application is postmarked after the application deadline 
date, we will not consider your application.


    Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated 
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your 
local post office.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery

    If you qualify for an exception to the electronic submission 
requirement, you (or a courier service) may deliver your paper 
application to the Department by hand. You must deliver the original 
and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the 
application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: 
U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: 
(CFDA Number 84.351D), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center 
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.
    The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily 
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, 
Sundays and Federal holidays.


    Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you 
mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:
    (1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by 
the Department--in Item 4 of the Application for Federal Education 
Assistance (ED 424) the CFDA number--and suffix letter, if any--of 
the competition under which you are submitting your application.
    (2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application 
receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant 
application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the 
application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of 
Education Application Control Center at (202) 245-6288.

V. Application Review Information

    Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are 
from section 75.210 of EDGAR. The maximum score for all the selection 
criteria is 100 points. The maximum score for each criterion is 
indicated in parentheses. Each criterion also includes the factors that 
the reviewers will consider in determining how well an application 
meets the criterion. The Note following selection criterion (e) is 
guidance to help applicants in preparing their applications, and are 
not required by statute or regulations. The criteria are as follows:
    (a) Need for project (10 points). The Secretary considers the need 
for the proposed project. In determining the

[[Page 6189]]

need for the project the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the proposed project will provide services 
or otherwise address the needs of students at risk of educational 
failure.
    (2) The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, 
infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be 
addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude 
of those gaps or weaknesses.
    (b) Significance (20 points). The Secretary considers the 
significance of the proposed project. In determining the significance 
of the proposed project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The importance or magnitude of the results or outcomes likely 
to be attained by the proposed project, especially improvements in 
teaching and student achievement.
    (2) The likely utility of the products (such as information, 
materials, processes, or techniques) that will result from the proposed 
project, including the potential for their being used effectively in a 
variety of other settings.
    (3) The potential replicability of the proposed project or 
strategies, including, as appropriate, the potential for implementation 
in a variety of settings.
    (4) The extent to which the results of the proposed project are to 
be disseminated in ways that will enable others to use the information 
or strategies.
    (c) Quality of the project design (35 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the design of the proposed project. In 
determining the quality of the design of the proposed project, the 
Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the design of the proposed project reflects 
up-to-date knowledge from research and effective practice.
    (2) The extent to which the proposed project is part of a 
comprehensive effort to improve teaching and learning and support 
rigorous academic standards for students.
    (3) The extent to which the design for implementing and evaluating 
the proposed project will result in information to guide possible 
replication of project activities or strategies, including information 
about the effectiveness of the approach or strategies employed by the 
project.
    (4) The extent to which the proposed project is designed to build 
capacity and yield results that will extend beyond the period of 
Federal financial assistance.
    (d) Quality of the management plan (15 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the management plan for the proposed project. 
In determining the quality of the management plan for the proposed 
project, the Secretary considers the following factors:
    (1) The adequacy of the management plan to achieve the objectives 
of the proposed project on time and within budget, including clearly 
defined responsibilities, timelines, and milestones for accomplishing 
project tasks.
    (2) The extent to which the time commitments of the project 
director and principal investigator and other key project personnel are 
appropriate and adequate to meet the objectives of the proposed 
project.
    (3) The adequacy of procedures for ensuring feedback and continuous 
improvement in the operation of the proposed project.
    (e) Quality of the project evaluation (20 points). The Secretary 
considers the quality of the evaluation to be conducted of the proposed 
project. In determining the quality of the evaluation, the Secretary 
considers the following factors:
    (1) The extent to which the methods of evaluation are thorough, 
feasible, and appropriate to the goals, objectives, and outcomes of the 
proposed project.
    (2) The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.
    (3) The extent to which the evaluation will provide guidance about 
effective strategies suitable for replication or testing in other 
settings.


    Note: A strong evaluation plan should be included in the 
application narrative and should be used, as appropriate, to shape 
the development of the project from the beginning of the grant 
period. The plan should include benchmarks to monitor progress 
toward specific project objectives and also outcome measures to 
assess the impact on teaching and learning or other important 
outcomes for project participants. More specifically, the plan 
should identify the individual and/or organization that has agreed 
to serve as evaluator for the project and describe the 
qualifications of that evaluator. The plan should describe the 
evaluation design, indicating: (1) What types of data will be 
collected; (2) when various types of data will be collected; (3) 
what methods will be used; (4) what instruments will be developed 
and when; (5) how the data will be analyzed; (6) when reports of 
results and outcomes will be available; and (7) how the applicant 
will use the information collected through the evaluation to monitor 
progress of the funded project and to provide accountability 
information both about success at the initial site and about 
effective strategies for replication in other settings. Applicants 
are encouraged to devote an appropriate level of resources to 
project evaluation.

VI. Award Administration Information

    1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your 
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award 
Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.
    If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, 
we notify you.
    2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify 
administrative and national policy requirements in the application 
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable 
Regulations section of this notice.
    We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of 
an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and 
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also 
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding 
commitments under the grant.
    3. Grant Administration: Applicants should budget for a three-day 
meeting for project directors to be held in Washington, DC.
    4. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a 
final performance report, including financial information, as directed 
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an 
annual performance report that provides the most current performance 
and financial expenditure information as specified by the Secretary in 
34 CFR 75.118. For specific requirements on grantee reporting, please 
go to: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html and 
review the links on that Web page specifically associated with ED Form 
524B.
    5. Performance Measures: In response to the Government Performance 
and Results Act (GPRA), the Department has established the following 
performance measure for assessing the effectiveness of the AEMDD 
program: the percentage of students participating in arts models 
programs who demonstrate higher achievement than those in control or 
comparison groups. Grantees funded under this competition will be 
expected to collect and report to the Department data on the numbers of 
these students applicable to their project.

VII. Agency Contact

    For Further Information Contact: Diane Austin, U.S. Department of 
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Room 4W210, Washington, DC 20202-

[[Page 6190]]

5950. Telephone: (202) 260-1280 or by e-mail: [email protected].
    If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.
    Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an 
alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer 
diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this 
section.

VIII. Other Information

    Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as 
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal 
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the 
Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
    To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available 
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. 
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in 
the Washington, DC area at (202) 512-1530.


    Note: The official version of this document is the document 
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the 
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal 
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/index.html.


    Dated: February 1, 2006.
Christopher J. Doherty,
Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary, Office of Innovation and 
Improvement.
[FR Doc. 06-1076 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P